Delhi Dynamos FC won their second consecutive Indian Super League (ISL) game as they defeated Mumbai City FC 4-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the national capital.
Delhi -- who had beaten NorthEast United FC on Monday -- moved up to fifth place in the standings with 13 points from 11 matches. They are two points behind fourth placed Kerala Blasters FC, who have played an equal number of matches. At the end of the home and away fixtures, the top four teams will qualify for the semifinals.
Peter Reid's Mumbai lost their second consecutive game after last Sunday's defeat at the hands of league leaders Chennaiyin FC. They have slipped to the bottom of the eight-team league with 12 points from 11 matches. However, all is not lost as only three points separate them from Kerala Blasters in the top-four.
Hans Mulder, Mads Junker and Gustavo dos Santos scored for Delhi in the 44th, 50th and 60th minutes respectively. Substitute Abhishek Yadav narrowed the margin for Mumbai with four minutes remaining. But Delhi substitute Manish Bhargav netted in injury time to crown his team's dominance of the second half.
Ironically, Mumbai -- with former Sweden international Freddie Ljungberg at the heart of their midfield yet missing his former Arsenal teammate Nicolas Anelka up-front -- started on a stronger footing as they looked for the early goal. However, the home team hung in as they defending bravely in numbers.
Against the run of play, Delhi -- who were without Italian World Cup winning striker Alessandro Del Piero -- took the lead one minute before the half-time whistle. Delhi's Danish striker Mads Junker put in a low cross at the near post. Mumbai's former Borussia Dortmund centre-back Manuel Friedrich made an uncharacteristically poor clearance and the ball fell to Delhi midfielder Hans Mulder. The Dutchman slotted the ball home for a 1-0 lead at the break.
Peter Reid took off Ljungberg at the start of the second half. However, before the visitors could settle down, Delhi doubled their lead in the 50th minute. Brazilian midfielder Dos Santos sent in an excellent through ball to Junker who got in at the end of it and rolled it past the helpless Mumbai custodian Subrata Paul.
Ten minutes later, it was Dos Santos' turn to get on the scoresheet. The unmarked Brazilian midfielder headed in an accurate cross from the right provided by teammate Francis Fernandes.
Mumbai's former India international striker Abhishek Yadav -- brought on as a late substitute -- scored on his ISL debut when he executed a superb volley to beat Delhi goalkeeper Kristof Van Hout.
There was more late action when Delhi substitute Manish Bhargav extended Delhi's three-goal buffer in injury time. The Delhi midfielder made no mistake from a rebound following Paul's save of fellow midfielder Steven Dias' effort.
Mumbai will take on provincial rivals FC Pune City in a derby game on Dec 3. Delhi will play second placed Atletico de Kolkata a day earlier.